Kamui Kobayashi will replace Franck Montagny as Toyota’s third and primary test driver in 2008.
The Japanese team announced on Friday that the 21-year-old, who like countryman Kazuki Nakajima is a product of Toyota’s young driver programme, is “ready for the challenge of formula one”.
Team boss Tadashi Yamashina said: “He tested the car last winter and showed he had the potential to drive in formula one in the future.”
Montagny, reportedly to test for the Force India team at Jerez next month, drove for the last time in a Cologne built cockpit at Barcelona on Thursday.
“He is a fast and intelligent driver who has been a real pleasure to work with,” test team manager Gerd Pfeiffer said in Spain.
“I know everyone in the test team wishes him good luck in whatever he chooses to do next,” he added.
Kobayashi spent the last two years in the F3 Euro Series.
